WEC: Porsche GT drivers test LMP1 car

Porsche factory GT drivers Frederic Makowiecki and Michael Christensen got their first taste of the German manufacturer's 919 Hybrid World Endurance Championship contender this week.

Makowiecki and Christensen, who respectively race factory Porsche 911 RSRs in the World Endurance Championship and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, took part in the two-and-a-half-day test at Magny-Cours at the wheel of one of the LMP1 coupes.

Together with Porsche LMP1 regulars Brendon Hartley and Marc Lieb, they completed just over 1,200 miles during the test. That means the 919 has completed more than 6000km over three tests held at Paul Ricard, Lausitz and now Magny-Cours since the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

"We kept focusing on improving our race performance," Porsche LMP1 team principal Andreas Seidl said. "After the introduction of our new aerodynamic package at the recent test at Lauzitz, it was important for us to gain more experience with it on another racetrack with Marc and Brendon.

"Michael Christensen and Frederic Makowiecki got used to the 919 Hybrid very quickly and were able to contribute to the program."

The Magny-Cours test was the last time the Porsche LMP1 will run ahead of the resumption of the WEC at Circuit of The Americas on Sept. 20.